This page is part of an archive and is available for historical reference only; for information on recent and upcoming Minicons, please visit www.mnstf.org/minicon/

Information on these pages may not reflect current Minicon and Minn-StF policies, functions, contact info, etc.

For information about the Minnesota Science Fiction Society, the organization that has been putting on Minicon since 1968, please visit www.mnstf.org.

 

 

Minicon
Operations Manual

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revised by

Donald J. Bailey

March 31, 1998

Reviewed by

Loren Botner,
Rachael Hoffman–Dachelet,

Doug Kurks,

Kathy Lowery,

Cat Ocel,

Linda Paul

Originally Compiled by

Cat Ocel

  

Previous Revision by

Loren Botner,
Linda Paul

  

 

 

 

Table of Contents

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Glossary

1.2 Related documents

2. PRE-CONVENTION PREPARATION

2.1 Timeline

2.2 Budget

2.3 Department Structure

2.3.1 Operations Leadership

2.3.2 Communications Officers

2.3.3 Dispatchers

2.3.4 Information Officers

2.3.5 Rangers

2.3.6 Life Support

2.3.7 Runners

2.3.8 Badgers

2.4 Vendors

2.4.1 Professional Security Services

2.4.2 Communications Equipment

2.4.3 Computers

2.5 Pre-convention Tasks

3. AT THE CONVENTION

3.1 Set up

3.2 The Bridge Log

3.3 Private Space and Public Space

3.4 Equipment Procedures

3.4.1 Pagers

3.4.2 Cellular Phones

3.4.3 Radios

3.5 Emergency Procedures

3.5.1 Disaster Emergencies

3.5.2 Medical Emergencies:

3.5.3 Contacting Members for Personal Emergencies

3.6 Complaints and People Problems

3.6.1 Levels of Response

3.6.2 Warnings

3.6.3 Handling Complaints

3.6.4 Ejection

3.7 After hours Registration

3.7.1 Lost Badges

3.7.2 After Hours Registration

3.8 Lost Children or Lost Parents

3.9 Lost and Found

3.10 Situations and Responses

3.10.1 Noise

3.10.2 Public drumming

3.10.3 Smoking in Non-Smoking Areas

3.10.4 Sleepers in the Public Areas

3.10.5 Information Request

3.10.6 Non-Badged Individuals

3.10.7 Sex in the ConSuite/Public Areas

3.10.8 Unusually rude behavior

3.10.9 Sexual Harassment

3.10.10 Rowdy and unsupervised Children

3.10.11 Violence

3.10.12 Weapons

3.10.13 Press

3.10.14 Volunteers in need

3.11 Hotel issues

3.11.1 Pool/Whirlpool

3.11.2 Dealing with the Radisson Staff

3.12 Underage Drinking:

3.13 Pets

4. AFTER THE CONVENTION

4.1 Clean up

4.2 Post Convention Report

5. CONVENTION POLICIES

5.1 Animal Policy

5.2 Adhesive Posts (Stickers) Policy

5.3 Badge Policy

5.4 City, County, State and Federal Laws

5.5 Litter

5.6 Smoking

5.7 Weapons Policy

6. BLOOMINGTON CITY ORDINANCES

 

  1. INTRODUCTION

    2. The Minicon Operations department helps the convention work smoothly by coping with problems at the convention. It aids communication between all Minicon departments, and serves as the main contact for convention members, community authorities, emergency services, the press, or anyone else who wants to contact Minicon during the convention. Before the convention, Operations serves as the convention’s focus for acquisition of communication and security resources.

    There are three major sections dealing with activities before the convention, at the convention, and after the convention. There is a fourth section containing things that do not conveniently fit in the first three sections. This manual holds useful information for future conventions and acts as a central source of Operations information for use during the convention.

    Operations policies often affect the convention as a whole and may affect the parent organization or future conventions. Policy changes must be discussed with the convention leadership.

    Minicon Operations has evolved over several years and benefited from the thoughtfulness of many people. We thank everyone who has worked before us and with us. We hope future conventions will improve and add to the Operations documentation.

    1. Glossary

      2. Bridge, The The communications center for Operations.

      C.O.C.K.T.A.I.L. Compendium of Convention Knowledge, Terms, And Individual Lies

      Committee A card game played by three people in two teams of two. It is known to the outside world as Contract Bridge.

      Deaf Cow n An in-joke taken from an off-hand comment and translated to high farce based on too many nuclear thrillers.
      Deaf Cow 5 Peace. Boredom. This is good.
      Deaf Cow 4 Calm. Normal daytime activity.
      Deaf Cow 3 Busy. Normal evening activity.
      Deaf Cow 2 Serious situation. May involve Police. This is bad.
      Deaf Cow 1 Emergency. No more jokes. This is very bad. Don’t go here.

      EMS Bloomington’s Emergency Medical System.

      EMTs Emergency Medical Technicians from the EMS.

      Exec The top level leadership of the convention. It may be one person or a team.

      FLF Fan Locator Form. A form used to help us make announcements to find people.

      Hotel Security The Radisson’s security personnel, sometimes called "Loss Prevention."

      In-joke A community and team building device, usually a reference to some shared knowledge or experience. If you don’t understand the joke, please ask.

      Life Support A Minicon department with people trained in CPR and first aid.
      Not to be confused with official community services. See EMS.

      Log, The Our record of Operations related events at Minicon.

      Minn-stf The Minnesota Science Fiction Society

      Mpls in 73 An idea whose time has come, and gone, and gotten silly. It was originally a bid for the 1973 World Science Fiction Convention, but we forgot to stop.

      Ops A common abbreviation for Operations.

      Radisson A fine hotel that has been Minicon’s home for many years.

      Rangers Those who walk around the convention looking for potential problems. Minicon Rangers are not associated with any military or paramilitary organization of this or any other planet and certainly are not connected with those little people accused of throwing valuable jewelry into a semi-active volcano.

      Talk-to List A list of people who have caused trouble in the past.

    2. Related documents

      3. Ranger Training Notes is a companion to the Operations Manual. It covers most of the same issues as section 3 but from the Rangers’ point of view.

      Badger Training Notes is a one page collection of guidelines for the people watching badges at various doorways.

      The Talk-To List, work schedules, and the committee and confidential phone lists are kept separately.

      The Bridge will have at least one current copy of the Resume and Contract for each of the Minicon Hotels.

      There is a Summary of Bloomington City Ordinances available for reference on the Bridge.

    3. A Note of Thanks

    Minicon has had an Operations Department for over 20 years. This document is based on the notes, opinions, and experience of many people who worked out of friendship or duty. Unfortunately, we don’t have all of their names. Every year there are people who work in Operations that never get their names in the Program Book or get any recognition except from their co-workers. This manual would not be as complete without all the people through the years who took notes, spent time to teach, or took time to learn. Thank you, everyone.

  2. Pre-convention Preparation
    1. Timeline
    1. Nine months before the convention: Operations top level leadership is selected. Prepare a request for volunteers to go into the first convention progress report.
    2. Seven months before the convention: Operations budget should be created, discussed, and approved. Contact all volunteers as soon as possible.
    3. Six months before the convention: Negotiate for commercial security services.
    4. Four months before the convention: Prepare information on policies for the second convention progress report. Request more volunteers. Complete discussion of policy and procedure changes.
    5. Three months before the convention: Prepare information for the convention Program Book. Plan meetings for CPR and first aid training.
    6. Two months before the convention: Hold training sessions.
    7. One month before the convention: Purchase non-perishable supplies for the convention.
    8. Less than a week before the convention: Purchase any perishable supplies not covered by other departments. Pick up rented equipment.
    9. Two days before the convention: Advance team checks into the hotel and sets up the Bridge.
    10. One day before the convention: Distribute equipment. Provide communications and a contact point for other departments. Operations Head attends the pre-convention meeting with the Radisson staff.
    1. Budget

      2. This is a typical sample budget for supporting a 3500 person convention in 1998.

      Communications equipment $1700.00
      16 radios and supporting equipment
      2 cellular phones and air time
      42 pagers
      1 Caller ID phone system with rollover

      Security services $1200.00
      4 people for 72 hours

      Computer network $1000.00
      6 PCs, hub, and
      software

      Miscellaneous supplies $500.00
      office supplies
      training supplies

      Total $4400.00

    2. Department Structure
      1. Operations Leadership

        2. Operations is led by a department head and two or three assistants. These people work in shifts at Minicon to provide 24 hour leadership for the department.

        Operations also has Sub-Heads that do advanced problem solving, manage the Rangers or the Bridge, and train to run the department.

      2. Communications Officers

        3. Communications Officers answer and place phone calls on the Bridge. They direct issues to the appropriate handler. Basic word processing skill is useful, but the ability to listen is required.

      3. Dispatchers

        4. The Left Hand of the Head on Duty and Speaker to Radios. They need to attend training, and work with the Sub-Head on Duty. They must be able to remain calm and rational while doing three things at once; a great job for moms and dads.

      4. Information Officers

        5. A greeter of fans, an Answerer of questions, and Keeper of a Book (Cocktail). The "Cocktail" is a collection of information submitted by other Minicon departments to help answer questions. This position requires some experience with Minicon and a desire to meet people.

      5. Rangers

        6. A Ranger is the "eyes and ears" of Minicon. A Ranger is a type of "convention host," focused on maintaining a safe, friendly environment at Minicon. Rangers should be "people" persons.

        We use the name "Ranger" because it is a neutral, non-threatening term not used by any other department.

      6. Life Support

        7. People must have a current certification in first aid and CPR, cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Out-of-state certifications are acceptable. Professional medical training is an acceptable alternative.

      7. Runners

        8. Runner of Things and Bearer of News, those who will likely go everywhere. Experience: None required. Ideal for those who want to move around the Convention.

      8. Badgers

      Those who attend events or functions of the Convention and look for badges. Experience: None required. Great for those who want to attend the Convention and help

    3. Vendors
      1. Professional Security Services

        2. Minicon has used Viper Security, Chuck Loesch, for many years.

        The Art Show and the Dealers’ room will be provided with professional, unarmed, security guards for the specific hours requested. The guards will report to these areas shortly before the start of their shifts.

        Service will be provided are as follows:

        DEALERS ROOM

        Friday 7PM – 10AM

        Saturday 6PM – 11AM

        ART SHOW

        Friday 10PM – 10AM

        Saturday 12PM – 9:30AM

        CON SUITE

        Friday 9 PM – 3 AM

        Saturday 9 PM – 3 AM

         

      2. Communications Equipment

        3. Minicon has used BearCom for pagers and radios and Car-Tel for cellular phones for several years.

      3. Computers

      There is no preferred vender for rental computers.

    4. Pre-convention Tasks

This is an unordered set of tasks that need to get done before the convention.
    1. Define Bridge layout
    2. Schedule people for Bridge setup
    3. Schedule department meetings
    4. Prepare budgets
    5. Write items for the Progress Reports and the Program Book
    6. Call volunteers
    7. Update Operations documentation and training materials
    8. Plan and rent communications equipment
    9. Plan computer network – hardware and software
    10. Negotiate with security vendor
    11. Inventory Bridge equipment including
      First Aid Kits (1 lg. for Bridge, 1 sm. for each Ranger’s Bag)
      Petty Cash Box
      Office Supplies
      Kitchen Supplies
    12. Get cross-reference lists from Registration for:
      Real Name
      Badge Name
      Badge Number
      Children and responsible adults
    13. Make/Order signs
    14. Design/Order department badges
    15. Design/Order department T-Shirts
    16. Locate the old Lost and Found Box
    17. Get a new Lost and Found Box
    18. Order Food supplies for Bridge workers
  1. At the Convention
    1. Set up

      2. The Bridge must be set up by 9:00 AM on the day before the convention. The radio base station and the computer network must be set up at this time. The Bridge provides a focal point that is available to help coordinate activities needed to set up the other departments.

      A representative of Viper Security will be stopping by the Bridge sometime after it opens on Thursday to pick up the check for services. The check will be in the possession of the On-Duty Head of Operations. Contact them, if not on the Bridge.

      Most Operations shift assignments should be filled at this time.

      Get a set of the appropriate Hotel keys.

    2. The Bridge Log

      3. We keep a record of events to communicate ongoing problems between shifts and to provide useful documentation after the fact in case we need to negotiate an issue with the Radisson, negotiate an issue with a convention member, or provide information about an incident to community authorities. The log started out has a set of handwritten notebooks and has evolved to a networked computer application. It was computerized to make it easier to read. It was networked to make it search-able without disrupting work.

      The log is available to Rangers, Bridge personnel, Life Support personnel, the Minicon Executive(s), and the Minn-stf Board of Directors. Operations Sub-heads and above may make the log available to others at their discretion.

      The log is for Minicon business. Names of individuals included in the log are not available for general publication without their permission.

      It has become a tradition to include humorous anecdotes about the convention and comments from the recorders when they are bored. This is encouraged so long as it does not disrupt serious business.

    3. Private Space and Public Space

      4. The public spaces are the Radisson include the Hotel lobby, the restaurants, the bar, the elevators, and the halls going to and from rooms. We may not prevent someone from visiting a Radisson customer in the customer’s room.

      The inner hall of the Garden Court area, the function rooms, and the 22nd floor is considered private space.

    4. Equipment Procedures
      1. Pagers

There are three types of pagers; tone, voice and digital. Any of these pagers may be in use by individuals on the pager list. Tone pagers emit a beeping tone only, voice pagers relay short verbal messages, and digital pagers relay an entered phone number or message to the wearer. Many of the Committee Members carry and use their own personal pagers, so check with them on the type and make sure it is listed on the pager list. Always test the pager with the wearer before they leave to ensure it is functioning.

To Place a Page:

Tone Pager
    1. Dial the pager’s number
    2. Wait for a series of 3 to 4 rapid beeps
    3. Hang-up
    4. Log on pager tracking list so a repeat page can be made if necessary

Voice Pager
    1. Dial the pager’s number
    2. Wait for a series of 3-4 rapid beeps
    3. Speaking clearly, leaving a short message
    4. Repeat the message at least twice to ensure the wearer receives it
    5. Hang-up
    6. Log on pager tracking list so a repeat page can be made if necessary

Digital Pager
    1. Dial the pager’s number
    2. Wait for series of 3-4 rapid beeps
    3. Punch in the number to be called or the number of the Bridge (7215)
    4. Hang-up
    5. Log on pager tracking list so a repeat page can be made if necessary
      1. Cellular Phones

        2. To place a call to someone who is carrying a cellular telephone, pick-up any outside line and dial 9 plus the number listed on the Pager/Cellular Phone List. Note what time you placed the call on the tracking list, along with who was called. Make a note if unable to reach the individual and try again later. To call the Bridge from a cellular phone or other outside phone, dial 835-7800 and ask for the Minicon Bridge.

      2. Radios

At the start of a shift, report to the Bridge to pick up a radio (if necessary) and a replacement battery pack. The old battery will need to be turned in for recharging.

To use the radio properly:
    1. Hold the 2-way radio so that your thumb is over the PTT (Press To Talk) button, the button on the right side of the unit with the front of the radio facing you.
    2. Holding the radio 2-3 inches away from your mouth, press the button firmly with your thumb and speak slowly and clearly. (Remember – Press first, then begin speaking.)
    3. When you have finished speaking, release the panel and wait for a response. If a response is not received after a short pause, repeat the procedure.
    4. Limit your use to short conversations and pause frequently to allow responses from others on the network.
    5. Listen for emergency breaks and clear the channel for emergency broadcasts immediately.
    1. Emergency Procedures

      2. Emergencies come in all sizes. There are three organizations that must coordinate in an emergency, Minicon, the Radisson, and the community services. We prefer to get them involved in that order. If there is any question about whether something is or is not an emergency, ask the senior staff members.

      1. Disaster Emergencies

        2. Disaster emergencies include fire, severe weather, and bomb threats. We will follow the directions of the Radisson staff.

        1. We find it first

          2. Rangers

          Report the problem to the Bridge. If the situation permits, use a telephone rather than broadcast information that might cause someone to panic.

          Dispatcher

          Get the Sub-Head’s attention. Dial 55 to inform the Radisson of the problem and ask for instructions.

          Sub-Heads

          If you anticipate that Child Care will need extra help to move or evacuate, draft about ten people to help from people sitting in the Bridge or Gofer Hole or from a function near Child Care. Organize people to assist the Radisson staff as needed.

        2. If the Radisson finds it first

        They will call the Bridge with instructions.

      2. Medical Emergencies:

Dispatcher

If the situation is judged to be life-threatening, the following personnel must be notified in the following order.

    1. Life Support personnel by two-way radio. They often monitor the Operation radio, so this step may be automatic. They will acknowledge the problem if they are listening.
    2. On-Duty Head of Operations by two-way radio, or cellular phone.
    3. Radisson Hotel Operator on the Hotel’s dedicated emergency number; dial 55 on any in-house or room telephone.
    4. On-Duty Exec. by pager or cellular phone.

Dispatch Rangers or others to guide emergency personnel to the location of the problem.

Please note: If a call to 911 is made and an ambulance is requested, the Bloomington Police will come to the Radisson. If the police respond, they will expect complete cooperation from all parties and will likely expect to take over the scene.

Rangers

If you believe there is a life threatening emergency

The Bridge is responsible for calling Minicon Life Support and the Radisson. The Radisson is responsible for calling 911. The Bridge is always your preferred first contact because it has the resources to do many things at once. If you cannot get through to the Bridge by radio or phone, try Life Support, or the Radisson as a last resort, but if you bypass the normal communication chain, you are responsible for informing the others.

The Radisson Hotel has a dedicated emergency line that may be reached by dialing 55 on any House or room phone. The Hotel operator will call 911 for you immediately and will also take care of informing all other necessary Hotel personnel of the problem. The Bloomington police are dispatched on all 911 emergency calls. This is why it is important for the Bridge to be informed of any emergency.
        1. Suspected poisoning or toxic reaction

          2. In the case of a possible poisoning, call the Poison Control Center at 347-3141 or 1-800-POISON1 for information and advice. Get whatever pertinent information is available. If possible, have complete information on the suspected substance(s) ingested. Check for Medic Alert Tags. If there are nearby prescription bottles, collect them. They may be important information for the medical personnel.

        2. Other Medical Problems

If the person is able to move without distress, escort them to the Life Support staff in Room 102. The Head of First Aid has a key, as do the On Duty Head of Operations and two of the First Aid support people.

If the person is unable to move comfortably, call the Bridge via the radio and have them send the Life Support team to the person.

If the person is asleep or unconscious, call the Bridge and request the Life Support team come to "check out a sleeper." Wait for the Life Support team to determine if other medical support is needed. Stand by and help with crowd control or in any other capacity as requested by Life Support.

In case of a possible poisoning, allergic, or toxic reaction, see 3.5.2.1
      1. Contacting Members for Personal Emergencies

We will attempt to make an extra effort to contact members for personal emergencies such as a death or injury in the family or damage to their home. For non-emergency requests, we will only use normal communication methods.

Comm Officer

If someone from outside of the convention is trying to contact a member of the convention, use the following procedures.
    1. Determine if this is an emergency.
    2. Ask the calling party if they happen to know if the member is staying at any of the participating Minicon Hotels. Ask if they have tried to contact the Hotel. For non-emergencies, provide the caller with the main telephone number of the Hotel their party is staying at and inform them that voice-mail or other messaging options are available. For emergencies, encourage them to contact the Hotel but offer to do it for them if necessary.
    3. If the Hotel contact option has been tried unsuccessfully or was not available, take down as much information as possible. See list below or use the form available on the Bridge.
    1. Member’s name
    2. Person whom the member should contact
    3. Contact’s phone number or where they can be reached
    4. Badge Name of the Member (if known)
    5. Names of individuals the Member might be staying with
    6. Nature of the emergency
    7. Main interest of the Member, i.e., gaming, art, huckster’s – a place to start a search.

For non-emergencies, send a message to the information table. For emergencies or if you are in doubt, consult with a Sub-Head.

Sub-Heads

At your discretion, there are several options available to find someone at Minicon. Public announcements will usually get through but could be an imposition and should be reserved for emergencies. Announcements can be made at Panels, Special Events, and Dark Star. There may be a way to put a message on the Minicon Television Channel. Check with Registration to find possible connections. Messages can be placed at the information table. Rangers can be sent to the major parties to ask about the person. The announcement should always be "<Person> has an important message waiting at the Bridge."

    1. Complaints and People Problems

      2. There will be about 3500 people at Minicon. Between 10 and 20 of them will create disruptive, unpleasant situations far out of proportion to their numbers. Fortunately, they are even less organized than we are! We have several ways to respond when people misbehave.

      1. Levels of Response
  1. Discussion. Explain the problem and what needs to be done. Most problems can be handled by discussion. This is always the preferred first response.
  2. Warning. A warning is official notice that a person’s behavior is unacceptable and may be cause for ejection. See 3.6.2, below.
  3. Conversion of drinking badge to non-drinking badge. This must be done by a Sub-head or higher. It must be done on the Bridge and may be in effect for one night or the remainder of the convention. This option is used for people we suspect of having drinking problem. It can be a face-saving compromise for someone threatened with ejection.
  4. Loss of badge for the night. This must be done by a Sub-head or higher. It is a common response when someone is seriously intoxicated and somewhat disruptive. It is also a response to someone not currently in charge of their emotions. The Sub-head has the option of sending the person home in a Minicon-paid cab.
  5. Ejection. An ejection may be recommended by Rangers, Sub-heads, or Department heads but must be approved by the Operations Head on Duty. This gives the person one last chance to convert to option c or d and reform. Anyone ejected goes on the Talk-To list.
  6. Physical ejection. If there is a need to physically remove someone, Hotel Security or Loss Prevention will be responsible for it. They will determine if the Police are required. If the Police become involved before Hotel Security, we will inform Hotel Security as soon as possible.
      1. Warnings

        2. On the third warning, the person’s membership is revoked and their name goes on the Talk-To list for next year. People on the Talk-To list must have the approval of Operations to register for Minicon. All warnings must be recorded in the Operations Log. Rangers may issue warnings and these warnings may be appealed to the Sub-Head or Operations Head on duty.

        People must be told of the option to appeal. Warnings may be issued for abusive language or significant lack of cooperation.

      2. Handling Complaints

        3. We are the right place to receive complaints about the convention. We want people to feel that we listen to them. If possible, we want to find a solution that satisfies everyone. If satisfaction is not possible, we want people to feel their complaint is heard and considered. Suggested improvements or changes should be recorded in the Bridge Log. If you direct the complainer to someone else, try to avoid the situation where they get passed from person to person several times. If you see them again, ask if the problem was resolved. For specific issues, see 3.10.

      3. Ejection

People may be ejected for any of the following reasons:
    1. Physical Assault
    2. Non-physical Harassment
    3. Too many warnings (Three maximum)
    4. Uncorrected violation of the weapons policy

Ejection decisions may be made by the On-Duty Head of Operations and the On-Duty Exec. People who are ejected go onto the Talk-To list.

Blatant violation of the weapons policy is grounds for immediate ejection without a warning having been received by the violator. This is especially true if the violator is carrying a real gun, loaded or otherwise. Replica firearms should be treated as real until proven otherwise. Any violations of city, state or federal laws are also grounds for immediate ejection.

To eject a member, demand the member’s badge and inform the individual that if they are registered at any of the convention hotels, they will no longer receive the convention rate. Contact Hotel Security if the former convention member does not comply. Inform the On-Duty Head of Hotel and the Head of Registration.

The On-Duty Head of Hotel will inform the Front Desk about the individual. This individual will be treated as if they are no longer a member of the convention and will not be given the convention rate. The Radisson, Sofitel or Holiday may then require the member to check-out and leave the hotel.

If it will ease the process, you may offer the individual being ejected a refund of their convention registration fee and/or a taxicab ride home.
      1. The Talk-To List

The Talk-To has proven to be one of the most effective tools we have to deal with people who misbehave. Not only can we remove people from this convention, we can restrict their involvement in future Minicons.

The Talk-To List is shared between Operations and Registration. It is not available for publication. For each person on the list, there is an explanation of incident or incidents that qualified them, the year they were first put on, a recommended action or condition for registration, and a removal date.

People on the Talk-To List must have the approval of the Head of Operations in order to register for the current year’s convention.

    1. After hours Registration

      2. When Registration closes, people will come to the Bridge to register. Registration materials must be kept secure. (Thanks to Beth Friedman for the information appearing in this section.)

      1. Lost Badges

        2. Take down the name on the badge, the individual’s real name and where they can be contacted if their badge is located. Replacement badges cost $20. Verify identification before returning the badge. If they have a badge, but want to change something, the cost is $5.

        If lost badges are found, place them in the Lost Badge Box. Fill out the log sheet with the information for quick reference.

      2. After Hours Registration

        3. When Registration is closed, the Bridge will have blank badges, At-The-Door (ATD) registration forms, a registration record book, and a cash box.

        1. Handling Pre-registered People
    1. Check identification.
    2. Find the name in the Registration book.
    3. Get the badge based on the badge number in the registration book.
    4. Have the person sign the book.
    5. Hand over the badge, a program book, and a pocket program.
        1. Handling Upgrades of Supporting Memberships
    1. Have them fill in their name on an ATD form and check the appropriate box.
    2. Find their name in the Registration book while they are filling in the form.
    3. Check their identification.
    4. Get the badge based on the badge number in the Registration book.
    5. Collect the cash or check for $20.
    6. Have them sign the book.
    7. Hand over the badge, a program book, and a pocket program.
    8. Put the ATD form and payment into the cash box.
        1. Handling At The Door Registration
    1. Have them fill out an ATD form. Special cases must be handled by Registration. Only normal adult and child ATD memberships are handled on the Bridge.
    2. Check identification. See 3.7.2.4.
    3. Take cash or check. Adult ATD memberships cost $70. Child ATD memberships cost $30.
    4. Hand over the badge, a program book, and a pocket program.
    5. Put the ATD form and payment into the cash box.
        1. Checking Identification

We check identification because we want to know who is attending Minicon. The badge is also our first line of defense against underage drinking. We can deal with behavior problems more effectively if we have a policy of recording the real name and address of each member. We also use this information to advertise the convention for next year.

Identification for a drinking badge must include a picture and a birth date. An acceptable form of identification for a non-drinking badge is the testimony of another, known, reputable person. If there is a question, problem, or common sense need for an exception, contact the Sub-Head or Head on duty.
    1. Lost Children or Lost Parents

      2. Rangers

      Lost children should be immediately taken to the Bridge by at least two individuals, preferably a male and a female. It will be easier for the Bridge staff to deal will an upset parent if you do. This recommendation is in response to a real incident.

      Bridge staff

      Find out the child’ s name, and any other pertinent information that will assist us in locating their parents or a responsible adult. Check the Registration data if there is a convention badge. Send the child to Child Care with one of the Pied Pipers and a Ranger. Fill out a Fan Locator Form, FLF, and ask Tech Support to broadcast a message over the Minicon TV channel.

      Word the message similar to, "There is an important package for <Parent> on the Bridge, please come to the Bridge immediately to get your package." Do not broadcast the child’s name.

      Parents reporting lost children should be directed to wait in the Bridge area until the child is located. Verify the parent’s and child’s identity in the Registration book. If the names do not match, try to contact the authorized parent. We don’t want to get in the middle of a custody fight.

      The child must be picked up by one of the accompanying adults listed in the Registration Book. Any exception must be authorized by the Head of Operations or the Minicon Exec. If there is an attempt to physically remove the child without our permission, send someone with a radio or cellular phone to follow them and call Hotel Security.

    2. Lost and Found

      3. The Bridge will provide a location to turn in found items. They will be logged in, and tracked. If someone comes in looking for an item, ask them to describe it in detail, then check the box to determine if the item has been turned in. If the item is an obviously valuable item (camera, jewelry, prescription glasses or drugs, purses or wallets), place these items in the box provided. Ask to see identification (preferably a photo ID) and enter the information onto the Lost & Found Form. Record the information into the Bridge Log.

    3. Situations and Responses

      4. The situations in this section were discussed from the Ranger’s viewpoint in the Range Training Notes. Here we use the Bridge staff’s viewpoint.

      1. Noise

        2. We have no noise restrictions or noise curfew, but complaints should be investigated. We may be able to negotiate with the noise makers, or possibly move the complainer. Use of amplified musical instruments in hotel rooms without prior notification should be discouraged.

      2. Public drumming

        3. There is a potential for spontaneous public drumming to start in the Garden Court or Atrium early on Friday or Saturday evening. Operations staff should be prepared to stop it. Programming has scheduled two drum jam events. Drumming in public outside the assigned time and place is considered rude and not allowed.

      3. Smoking in Non-Smoking Areas

        4. Some of our members are asthmatic or allergic. Even a small amount of smoke can be very bad for them. The bridge should have maps of the allowed smoking areas on hand.

      4. Sleepers in the Public Areas

        5. This is a possible medical problem. If reported to the Bridge, dispatch Life Support to investigate. The Radisson cannot tolerate sleeping in a Public Area, since they are in the business of selling sleeping space. Rangers should be assigned to patrol the lobby and other public areas to make sure no Minicon member is causing a problem.

      5. Information Request

        6. This is what of the main reasons we are here. Politely answer all questions of the Minicon members, if possible. If the question has to be passed on to someone else, try to handle the issue in one pass.

      6. Non-Badged Individuals

        7. Non-members have a right to eat in the hotel restaurants, visit the hotel bar, and visit individuals in their rooms. See 3.3 on Private Space and Public Space. Non-members do not have a right to be in our private space.

      7. Sex in the ConSuite/Public Areas

        8. Public sex is not acceptable at Minicon even if one of participants is the President of the United States. For this purpose, sex is defined as any activity that is very likely to generate an orgasm or prolonged sexual foreplay exceeding ten minutes. (We picked a time limit to try making enforcement more uniform.) Hugging, kissing, and hand holding are common at Minicon.

      8. Unusually rude behavior

        9. This is a volunteer–run convention. The volunteers, including you, do not deserve to be treated badly. Get an Operations Sub-Head, or another Ranger if no Sub-Head is available, to your location to evaluate the situation. You may evaluate it yourself if you are not directly involved in the incident. If the behavior is clearly unacceptable for Minicon, the uninvolved representative of Operations will issue an official warning.

      9. Sexual Harassment

        10. See above. If there are complaints about committee members, ask the Minicon Exec on duty to come to the Bridge.

        Sexual harassment could be anything from thoughtless behavior to predatory behavior. Ask how the complainer would like us to proceed. We can log it in case more incidents are reported, we can log it and talk to the problem person, or we can call in Hotel Security if the problem is serious enough. The complainer should be willing to press charges if Hotel Security is called.

      10. Rowdy and unsupervised Children

        11. Politely ask them to settle down. Ask who and where their parents are. If their activity is clearly unsafe, for their own safety and/or the safety of others, tell them to stop. One effective technique is to tell the children that, "If they do not behave, they will have to stay in Child Care with the little kids."

      11. Violence

        12. Violence is very rare and we want to keep it that way. We don’t want you to get hurt on our behalf. You have a right to protect yourself and others, but any active role you take is your responsibility. Always record badge names/numbers of both witnesses and participants.

        If a violent situation is in progress, you may be able to stop it by telling them to stop in a loud authoritative voice. Look for creative, non-violent solutions. Always get help, call for help, or send someone for help. You have 3000 close personal friends near by.

        If you suspect a situation may get violent, call the Bridge first. Take advantage of nearby resources, like the professional security person in the Con Suite or Hotel Security, and always arrange the situation in your favor.

      12. Weapons

        13. Refer to the weapons policy, 5.7. If you see someone who is carrying a weapon and it is not peace bonded, politely request that they peace bond their weapon with cord from your Ranger pack. Peace bonding protects them from idiots in the crowd and helps many other people feel more comfortable. If they do not peace bond their weapon, don’t persist, but maintain visual surveillance and contact the Bridge.

        If the weapon is a firearm and looks like the real thing, politely inform them that the Weapons policy does not allow them to carry it. Would they please return the item to their room or car. If they do not want to leave it in their room because they are concerned that it might be stolen, suggest the Radisson Hotel safe. If they do not cooperate, call the Ranger Head on Duty or the Operations Head on Duty

      13. Press

        14. We do not give out free passes to the press (unless a member of the Exec authorizes it). If necessary, call the On Duty Head of Operations to deal with him/her/them. Escort them to the Bridge.

      14. Volunteers in need

      If you find a volunteer whose relief is overdue, contact our Volunteers department and ask them to work on the problem. If the Volunteers department cannot be reached by phone, inform the Bridge of the problem and ask that Volunteers be contacted. If a committee member is getting over-stressed, contact our Cuddle Squad department and ask them to help. If you cannot reach Cuddle Squad, ask the Bridge to help.

    4. Hotel issues
      1. Pool/Whirlpool

        2. If there is a question or problem concerning over chlorination of the pool or the whirlpool, call the Bridge. They will ask our Hotel Liaison to talk with the Radisson.

      2. Dealing with the Radisson Staff

      If Rangers need to locate anyone on the Radisson Hotel staff, they should call the Bridge. The Bridge will call the On Duty Head of Hotel for significant problems or the Hotel Operator for minor problems.

       

    5. Underage Drinking:
    1. If they are of adult age (18-20) they are subject to ejection.
    2. If they are under 18 years of age:
      Get their badge name and number. Escort them to the bridge. Minors should be escorted by two people, preferably one of each sex, to avoid accusations from irate parents. (Based on a real incident.) Have the Bridge contact a responsible parent or guardian at the Radisson.

      3. You can explain to the minor that we must turn them over to a parent, legal guardian, or the local police in order to avoid direct liability. We would prefer to call a parent, but it is up to them.

    3. If they are seen drinking at an open-door party:
      Have the Bridge contact - the On Duty Head of Operations and the On Duty Head of Hotel. Find the host of the party and let them know of the violation. Remind them that the local authorities are really serious about this. The host is legally responsible for keeping minors out of their booze.

If the host is the not the one who is registered for this room, find out who is registered by asking around at the party or by calling the Bridge. The exact nature of the incident should not go out over the radio. Document the room number and the badge numbers of the host (if any), the room holder, and the underage violator. Depending on the age of the violator(s) step 1 or 2 must be followed.

    1. Pets

Pets are not allowed at Minicon. The Radisson does not have a pet policy, except when it comes to Minicon. This means NO dogs, cats, birds, ferrets, snakes, lizards, fire or otherwise, goats, dragons, Companions, etc. While one pet is usually not a problem, we would soon have many pet-related problems if we allowed them.

Working animals such as Seeing Eye dogs, Guide dogs, and other Helper or Aid animals, usually dogs, are allowed. These are usually fairly obvious, with appropriate harness. Some even have logos or signs as part of their apparel stating that they are working animals. The other really good clue is that their owner is usually sight, hearing or physically impaired.

  1. After the Convention

    2.  

    1. Clean up

      2. At least 50% of the Bridge supplies and equipment should be collected and removed from the Radisson on the day following the convention. The remainder must be removed on the second day following the convention.

      Communications equipment must be retrieved and inventoried.

    2. Post Convention Report

    Prepare a summary of incidents for the Convention post-mortem meeting. Review the Log to collect statistics, compliments and sharable humorous stories.

  2. Convention Policies

    3. We have chosen these policies to help everyone have a good time. Minicon has a reputation for being fun, safe and non-destructive. We want to keep it that way.

    1. Animal Policy

      2. Sentient beings only. The exception is working animals like guide dogs. Please do not bring your animals to the convention. If you do, you will be asked to leave, without refund.

    2. Adhesive Posts (Stickers) Policy

      3. Neither the Radisson nor Minicon will tolerate the application of ‘stickers’ to hotel surfaces. Their removal is damaging to the hotel, and therefore considered unacceptable. Incidents of this kind will be treated as vandalism.

      You can post non-adhesive signs with low-tack tape, like masking tape or gaffer’s tape, on surfaces that won’t be damaged by removal; such as tile and metal. If you don’t have acceptable tape, come to the Bridge; we’ll share ours.

    3. Badge Policy

      4. Your convention badge is necessary for your participation in the convention, it allows you access to the convention and indicates you are a member in good standing. However, Minicon reserves the right to revoke the membership of any member who breaks our house rules, or behaves in such a manner as deemed unsafe or unacceptable.

    4. City, County, State and Federal Laws

      5. Please Remember whatever applies outside, still applies inside the hotel and the convention.

    5. Litter

      6. Please pick up after yourself. There are trash containers around the hotel. It makes a big difference if we try to keep things clean.

    6. Smoking

      7. If you smoke please be considerate of other members, and use the public areas posted for smoking. Smoking is permitted indoors only in spaces clearly posted as a designated smoking area. Designated smoking areas include the hotel bar and lounge, designated rooms, parts of the Consuite, and other areas posted.

      Remember: ashtrays are provided at the elevators for you to snuff your combustibles.

    7. Weapons Policy

We want everyone to have a safe and enjoyable time while at Minicon, so please leave your weapons in your quarters. Otherwise, please adhere to the following policy, or risk being ‘uninvited’ to the convention, without refund from the convention or the hotel.
    1. Use good judgment. Even if it complies with the remaining rules, if it is unsafe or would reduce the enjoyment of others, please don’t do it.
    2. No projectile weapons. If it projects a solid, liquid, gas, or energy with enough force to annoy, it is a projectile weapon.
    3. All weapons must be carried in a sheath, sling, or other container of some kind at all times.
    4. Peace-bonding is required on all weapons. If you don’t have it, we will.
    5. A ‘peace-bonded’ weapon is one tied into its sheath or container with a functional, but decorative binding. It prevents someone else from taking your weapon without permission, and it is a visible sign to everyone that you are a responsible person.
    6. We define weapons to include real weapons (they do what they look like), facsimile weapons (they look real), anything actually used as a weapon (don’t think about it, remember - you’re on a cruise), and anything an otherwise ignorant being would surmise is a weapon.
    7. Notice: Targeting anyone with a laser sighting device is annoying, and considered assault.
  1. Bloomington City Ordinances

A copy of Bloomington City Codes is available on the Bridge for reference. Listed below are a few of the items that are relevant.

SEC 12.07 Disorderly conduct at Events. (Pg. 56 BPDCOS)

If someone gets in without paying or refuses to leave when told, they may be violating this ordinance.

SEC 12.17 Bomb Threats (Pg. 66 BPDCOS)

SEC 12.24. Weapons Prohibited – Concealed Weapons (Pg. 67 BPDCOS)

SEC 12.38. & SEC 12.41 – Juvenile Curfew (Pg. 69-70 BPDCOS)

SEC 12.59. Unlawful Smoking (Pg. 74 BPDCOS)

SEC 13.74 Possession of Alcohol by Minor (Pg. 130 BPDCOS)

SEC 12.04.4 Disorderly Conduct – Swimming nude – (Pg. 54 BPDCOS)